Proposals to tighten the rules on monitoring children who are missing school regularly have been suggested by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn.

The Irish Independent reports that the Minister has announced plans to speak with Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald about lowering the threshold at which local authorities get involved in absence.

Currently, pupils come to the attention of the authorities when they miss 20 days or more.

However, Mr Quinn claims it may be time to reduce this in a bid to discourage parents from taking their children out of school during term time to take advantage of cheap holidays.

On average, primary pupils miss 11 days out of 183 school days a year, while post-primary age students miss 13 days out of 167.

Figures reported to the National Educational Welfare Board on a quarterly basis also reveal that one in eight pupils across both levels miss at least 20 school days a year.

Written by Donal Walsh

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